In a pair of ceremonies Sunday afternoon, residents of Gloucester and Mathews took time out of their holiday weekends to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday.

Memorial Day observances were held by American Legion units in the two counties. In Mathews, Lynn Jaeger reflected on her father’s experiences during World War II as a member of the U.S. Merchant Marine, while in Gloucester, Army Lt. Col. and Chaplain Juan M. Crockett urged those in attendance never to forget the men and women of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep this nation free.

In Mathews

About 35-40 people gathered at American Legion Post 83 in Hudgins for the Memorial Day program. Jaeger, chairman of the Mathews County Chamber of Commerce, took the opportunity as the guest speaker to address the status of her father and approximately 250,000 others who only received the designation of World War II veterans nearly four decades after that conflict ended.

“My father is 92 years old a...